The highly anticipated finale of When The Stars Gossip, the tvN drama starring Lee Min Ho and Gong Hyo Jin, aired recently—and it’s safe to say it didn’t land among the stars as hoped. Set against the vast backdrop of outer space, this ambitious K-drama promised a stellar experience with its A-list cast and a reported 50 billion won budget. Instead, the conclusion has sparked a wave of confusion, disappointment, and fiery debates online. Let’s dive into what happened and why viewers are calling it everything from “bizarre” to “the biggest flop in Korean drama history.”
The Finale: A Birth, a Death, and a Whole Lot of Questions
The drama wrapped up with a dramatic twist that left audiences scratching their heads. Eve Kim, played by Gong Hyo Jin, gives birth to a boy named Byeol (meaning “star”) in the unforgiving void of space—only to pass away shortly after. Meanwhile, Lee Min Ho’s character, Gongryong, chooses to stay behind to protect the newborn, defiantly telling Park Dong Ah and Kang Tae Hee, “I won’t leave until I find a way to return together with Byeol.”
The closing narration from Gongryong added fuel to the perplexing fire: “I kissed Byeol’s soles a hundred times in one day. I apologized over and over to the MCC people. To me, it was like hearing ‘You die instead.’ That day felt incredibly long. Eve did so much before leaving. The universe became both a grave and a womb.” His final words? “Goodbye, Eve, until we meet again.”
If that sounds poetic yet oddly cryptic, you’re not alone—viewers flooded online forums with reactions ranging from bewilderment to outright frustration.
Fan Reactions: “What On Earth Was That?”
Netizens didn’t hold back in dissecting this cosmic conclusion. The dialogue, particularly the recurring womb imagery, became a lightning rod for criticism.
“Womb fixation is insane,” one commenter quipped, while another laughed, “Womb talk right to the end, lol.” Many felt the line “The universe became both a grave and a womb” was trying too hard to be profound, landing instead in the realm of absurdity.
Then there’s the elephant in the room: Eve Kim’s death. Fans were livid about the treatment of the female lead, with one asking, “Gave birth in space and died? What kind of female lead treatment is this?”.
For a drama touted as a showcase for Gong Hyo Jin’s talents, her character’s demise felt like a betrayal to many. The 50 billion won budget also came under fire. “Where did the money go?” viewers demanded, with one suggesting,“They should have given every citizen 1,000 won instead.” Others dubbed it “a legendary waste of money” and “the most failed K-drama in the history of South Korea.” Ouch.
Theories and Speculation: What Was the Point?
“Close to You” by Jin was played in the Episode 16 Finale of “When The Stars Gossip” (#별들에게물어봐)!
CLOSE TO YOU BY JIN
JIN OST KING #Jin_ClosetoYou pic.twitter.com/1za4dSX0bf— All for Jin (@jinnieslamp) February 23, 2025
Amid the backlash, some fans tried to decode the drama’s intentions. One commenter mused,
“I mean, ultimately, all life comes from space and returns to space—that seems to be what they wanted to say. But did they really have to spend so much money doing it?”
Others speculated it might be a covert pro-life message or even a government-backed push to boost South Korea’s birth rates, given the focus on childbirth in such an extreme setting. “Why in space? Childbirth is so dangerous,” one viewer pointed out, highlighting the odd narrative choice.
The script, reportedly five years in the making, left many wondering what writer Park Dong Ah was thinking. “What was the writer thinking when writing this script… they say it took 5 years, ㅠㅠ,” a fan cried, the teardrop emoticon summing up the collective sentiment.
The Verdict: A Stellar Cast Can’t Save a Sinking Ship
#WhenTheStarsGossip is definitely topping 2025 top 10 worst dramas lmao congratulations! 😭 pic.twitter.com/VUHPy0kIJN
— dran (@daheeverse) February 23, 2025
It’s hard to deny the talent involved—Lee Min Ho and Gong Hyo Jin are powerhouse actors, and the space setting had all the makings of a groundbreaking story. “The actors who did that are amazing, lol,” one commenter noted, giving credit where it’s due. But even their star power couldn’t salvage what many see as a convoluted and unsatisfying ending.
So, what do you think? Did When The Stars Gossip reach for the stars only to crash and burn, or is there a deeper meaning we’re all missing? Was it a noble experiment that just didn’t land, or a cautionary tale of ambition gone awry? Drop your thoughts below—We’d love to hear if you’re as perplexed as the rest of us!
